EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

skipper

the captain of a small ship or boat, or the leader of a team

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "skipper" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch schipper, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "skipper" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch schipper, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Skipper’s story begins in Middle Dutch: schipper meant “the captain of a ship.” One who commands a ship, from schip (ship). It reached English by 1300s as skipper. Settled as the English word for the captain of a small ship or boat. Today, skipper means the captain of a small ship or boat, or the leader of a team.

  1. Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval schipper "the captain of a ship", one who commands a ship, from schip (ship).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s skipper "the captain of a small ship or boat", settled as the English word for the captain of a small ship or boat.

Browse by origin